Mother's Group Strikes Again

I really love getting together with moms in the ward. We seriously have so much fun. Today was a Halloween party complete with doughnuts, apple cider, and cookies. It was great to see the little kids dressed up (Let's be honest. It's my favorite part of Halloween), and it gave us an excuse to get out and show off. We nixed the face paint for today though. I really didn't want to deal with it all day. Can you blame me? If you want to see the rest of the photos, they are on Flickr.

Incredible Halloween: Part II

So 2 years ago we were brilliant when we decided to go as the Incredibles for Halloween. So awesome. Everyone thought Rachel was the cutest thing they'd ever seen. Well, we're lazy. So this year we decided that we'd go as the Incredibles again (the turnover in our ward is amazing, no one would ever know we were recycling costumes), but I wanted to up the stakes a little bit. Go a little more all out. Here's the result:


Awesome huh? Yeah... Rachel & Andrew look amazing. Sam & I....well, let's just say we're a super-hero work in progress. We also had fun decorating pumpkins, cookies, and eating lots and lots of candy.

I love both their faces on this one

Rachel decorating her pumpkin with markers (Sam & I also carved one)

This is how Andrew likes to party. Pretty wild, huh?

Rachel getting all psyched to go to the Halloween Party (this is the pre-wipe-hands-through-her- face-paint picture)

Family Photo Attempt

With Rachel we managed to get up the canyon around her 1 month mark and take a family picture. So, of course, I want one this year (before all the leaves fall) now that there are four of us. Much, much more difficult a task. Sam's friend from work graciously accepted the excruciatingly painful task of photographing our little family and he did a great job. Any votes for which one goes up on our wall? 'A' or 'B'?


Unfortunately we spent the first 20 minutes or so trying to calm Rachel down who was having a tantrum over the fact that Andrew got to ride in the stroller and she didn't. The poor people that passed by probably thought we had come up with some new means of toddler-torture.


We did manage to get some crazy expressions out of her. It's amazing how she (and toddlers in general I suppose) can be screaming with tears streaking down their face once minute, and look like this the next. I don't think I'll ever understand.


Lucky for us, we have a baby too. Even though Andrew got cranky right afer we calmed Rachel down (figures) he still is much easier to take pictures of.

Different is Good

Per request of my cousin, I took these 4 guys and their beautiful cars out for a photo shoot the other week. Sam found the perfect spot overlooking Provo (even if it was slightly illegal..shhhh!). My cousin sells security systems, and is designing a website to entice guys (and girls I suppose) to come work under him next summer. He's going for the "we make lots of money and can afford really, really, nice cars" look. I think it went well. Different than my usual portraits, but fun nevertheless. I actually have two cousins in this picture...the two on the right. They're both way awesome.

This one was probably my favorite out of the whole shoot.

Check out the license plate...

My way cool cousin. He's single...anyone?

Together! Wahoo!!

I think this is one of the few pictures we have of just our two cute kids. Rachel really, really wanted to hold Andrew, so of course we had to pull out the camera. Sam caught some way cute expressions on Rachel! Andrew is also doing really good at holding his head up. Can't believe he's 2 months already.

Cute M & C

These two cute cousins came to my house last Saturday for Halloween Pictures. I was extremely excited as we had just received our new lighting set up and we looked all sorts of "professional". Ha! It was great fun. We had 4 adults jumping up and down trying to get them both to smile. Lots of pandemonium & laughter. I thought about posting individual pictures, but then I got lazy and just decided to post their scrapbook pages instead. Hope it's not too boring.

Sneak Peak

I got to photograph my Aunt's family at Wheeler Farm this weekend. They were so much fun! It helps that I totally love my cousins, and we were all comfortable with each other. They let me do some pretty cheesy stuff, and just laughed and enjoyed it. Well, as much as we could all enjoy the freezing cold! Good job guys! There's more to pick from, but I thought I'd let them see some before they left for vacation.

Some days I really just need smiles

Andrew has been smiling for a few weeks now, but I finally caught him (sort of) on camera. He always breaks out in grins when he's getting his diaper changed, and my hands are busy and can't hold the camera!

Not my best Self

I'm a wreck. Or, I have been a wreck for about the last week. Things are actually looking up though. For a few days I really wasn't sure what was wrong. I felt panicked. Anxious. Stressed. There really wasn't any good reason for it, but it was there. I have been taking a lot of pictures in the last week. I took Rachel & Andrew out, Ashleigh's Bridals, our family pictures, Halloween costume portraits, and my Aunt's family pictures all in less than a week. Like I said, stressed. So I took a break. I've really tried not even to be on the computer the last two days, and I feel better. I've spent a lot of time organizing and cleaning our apartment and it has been very therapeutic. Let's just say, I am the master at fitting our stuff into Rachel's bedroom closet. It is packed, but I fit it all in. So proud. I still have a very long list of things I have neglected to do (insurance for example), but I'm getting there. I still have a lot of pictures to proof, but I'm taking it slow. I've sure learned that I really can't do the whole "professional" photographer thing right now. I would collapse. Hobby? yes. Career? I don't think so. Don't worry though. You can still ask me to take your child/family pictures and I will say yes. I still love it. Just not in such large quantities.

Stepping into untread waters

I had my first bridals session this week, and I think I am now addicted. It was so much fun! It probably helped that this was definitely a no-stress situation, as Ashleigh is already married with a kid. But...who doesn't want gorgeous pictures of them in their wedding dress? Thanks Ash for dressing up so I could practice. It was great, and you look fantastic!

Isn't He Hot?!

Wow. I sure think so. We've been meaning to take Sam portraits for some time now, so when our shoot fell through on Saturday we decided to head up the canyon anyway. We saw this stone amphitheater in pictures at a wedding reception last Friday, and had to try it out. Luckily it didn't rain on us, but it was pretty wet & chilly.



While Sam and I were occupied, Rachel got to run amok. She took advantage of the situation and drenched herself jumping in puddles.

Camera Shy

Rachel really does not like to have her picture taken. I take that back. She really doesn't like to look at the camera. She doesn't mind the pictures, so long as I don't tell her what to do and it doesn't interfere with her current activities. Ah well. Someday I'll get a picture of her cute smile. I think Sam is right about one thing...I'm going to love photographing in northern California. I love the brown/yellow grass. It looks so good, and is plentiful in the Bay area.





We also found a fun "choo-choo train" to shoot by. It took some serious snack-bribery to get this shot.